Christmas Chandelier

Katrina Warren
by Katrina Warren
I like to decorate any hanging lights / chandeliers at Christmas time too, & this year I wanted to replace the usual globes with red ones for a more festive look.
This is what the chandelier normally looks like...... I searched for red globes on the internet & couldn't find any that weren't outrageously priced, & out of my budget... Sighhhhhhhhhhhh.......... What to do?!!! I had a light bulb moment when I opened my cabinet to grab a glass, & remembered that Target has RED bubble glasses available online, I could make my own globes!
I ordered my red tumblers & impatiently awaited their arrival...... Once they arrived, I got out my diamond coated hole bit, & went to work drilling holes in the bottom of the glasses. Make sure you keep water flowing over the bottom of the bit & glass so it doesn't get too hot if you try this.
One down 4 more to go!
Yay! All five tumblers drilled & fitted to the chandelier with no accidents! That leaves me one left over for drinking out of! =)
I usually only put garland around the outer rim of a chandelier but I'd seen one on pinterest that went all the way up & decided to try it. I used a cheap single 9ft garland from Walmart to wrap the chandelier starting at the top & winding my way down. Because I planned to also add ornaments to the bottom of the chandelier I needed the inner circle to be filled with greenery as well. For that I used a standard size cheap wreath from Walmart, & cut the wire in one place so I could slip it around the middle of the chandelier. The lights in the globes are flicker flame bulbs, & do not get hot at all, so no chance of fire from the heat of the bulbs.
I picked up 3 packages of the battery operated timed LED lights at Walmart to wind through the greenery. I LOVE these things, battery operated & timed, what more could you ask for?!!!! No climbing on the table to turn them on & off daily!
Looks pretty good just like that...... & it stayed that way for a while, until I decided what else to do with it......
Sadly my inspiration for direction came from the sudden unexpected passing of a dear friend Jackie. Jackie loved blingy jewelry & in honor of her memory, I looked for the blingiest Mark Roberts elf I could find.... Once I got the elf home I decided the "Jackie" elf would be the centerpiece of my chandelier, now known as the "Jackielier" & went to work accessorizing..........
There is a giant candy cane striped ornament on the back side of the chandelier to counter balance the weight of the elf in front.
Looks rather like a mini tree hanging from the ceiling doesn't it? I could have stopped there, but I wanted ornaments to hang from the bottom as well.....
Since the chandelier is in the dining area, I wanted to go with a candy theme for the ornaments. It doesn't really look like it in the photo, but there are over 30 red, white, green, candy cane, & chocolate themed ornaments hanging below.
The finished "Jackielier" you will be remembered my friend......
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  • Gail Nunez Gail Nunez on Dec 14, 2015
    I love the look but isn't that a lot of weight to add on? That would be my only concern and is why I haven't tried something like this before.
  • Gail Nunez Gail Nunez on Dec 15, 2015
    LOL - thanks for the feedback. My dining room light has a little more metal to it than yours does, so I was worried. I've put garland and ornaments on it before, but not a larger decoration like your elf. I'm inspired and will give it a shot! (Does your husband do sheetrock repair if the ceiling collapses?!?) ;)
  • Karen Lane Slocum Karen Lane Slocum on Jan 28, 2017
    What size is your elf? I am so doing this! It is absolutely beautiful.
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  • Love this. What a wonderful testament to your friends life. Sounds like she is a hoot up in heaven.

  • Cyn27563097 Cyn27563097 on Dec 21, 2017

    love this- I saw another post where the lady made her Christmas chandelier using a hoola hoop, but I like yours much better! Thanks for posting! Sorry for the loss of your friend.

    • Katrina Warren Katrina Warren on Dec 26, 2017
      Thank you, Jackie is dearly missed. Everyone that sees the Christmas chandelier loves it, & I get lots of compliments on it. The chandelier is very plain & I love dressing it up for different occasions!
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